PPP - Prevent Partisan Politics
Partisanship represents the worst of American politics. It puts each issue a large partisan battle (Republicans vs. Democrats) rather than an effort to do the right thing. Political discourse becomes polarized rather than unified. Each issue becomes conflated with The Battle, which creates an unnecessary chasm of communication. Stop the Madness: address the merits of an issue, not the evils of party opposition.
- Political parties are necessary, but partisan politics is not
- A party should have a platform, but elected officials should follow what is right
- Principles Over Party: If something is wrong as a Republican, it is wrong as a Democrat
- Do the Right Thing, not the partisan thing
Campaign Finance Reform
Wealthy influence on national tax plan bill: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump%E2%80%99s-richest-friends-are-asking-for-changes-to-the-gop-tax-plan-and-he%E2%80%99s-listening/ar-BBGngg6?li=BBnb7Kz. Trump on Saturday attended a fundraiser at the home of Stephen Schwarzman, chief executive of the Blackstone Group and the former leader of Trump's now-disbanded White House Strategy and Policy Forum. Longtime Trump friend Richard LeFrak, a New York real estate magnate who Trump has said would play a lead role in his infrastructure push, also attended. At the fundraiser, LeFrak asked Trump about making changes in the tax bill, people familiar with the exchange said. LeFrak had previously expressed to the White House concerns that the tax bill could hurt New York, and particularly its wealthy business class, people familiar with his thinking said. At least one other donor jumped in to echo LeFrak, the people said. … In response, Trump told the group he was aware of the concerns among his old friends and business associates — and that he understood them.
COVID/HCQ Overview
COVID Information
Premise
COVID is not the President’s fault, the response to COVID is. Information below is based on conversations with Trump supporters who feel his response is solid. My opinion is that thelack of federal response and appropriate coordination for a global pandemic, plus the continual misinformation from the administration, has caused tens of thousands of lives, if not more. And that will continue.
Conspiracy Theory Special Report, CNN
• Fareed Zakaria, 7-19-20: https://youtu.be/zv5hOiR77bg
• Doctor Fact Checks “Plandemic” documentary accusations of Fauci/CDC conspiracies re: COVID: https://youtu.be/TWpjc1QZg84Response Information to Discussion Points
Pandemic Preparation is Obama’s Fault
• Cupboards Bare Fact Check (Mostly False): https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/08/donald-trump/trump-said-obama-admin-left-him-bare-stockpile-wro/
• Obama left no pandemic game plan (false): https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/may/14/mitch-mcconnell/evidence-counters-mcconnell-claim-obama-team-left-/HCQ Information
• MSNBC: Medical expert re: HCQ & COVID (& Fauci’schanged position on masks): https://youtu.be/dwlacQ2QUzs
• Washington Post Fact Checker re: HCQ (April): https://youtu.be/QC-h7rnZW3k
• Doctor Fact Checks Trump re: HCQ/COVID (July): https://youtu.be/flzR0DImUbk
• BBC Reality Check re: HCQ and COVID: https://www.bbc.com/news/51980731
• Group of Doctors claim HCQ cure for COVID (false): https://www.factcheck.org/2020/07/in-viral-video-doctor-falsely-touts-hydroxychloroquine-as-covid-19-cure/
• Navarro claim that HCQ reduces COVID mortality 50% (false): https://www.factcheck.org/2020/07/navarro-doesnt-give-full-picture-on-hydroxychloroquine/
• HCQ used in countries with low COVID rates (false): https://www.factcheck.org/2020/04/trumps-faulty-malaria-coronavirus-connection/
• French Study does not back HCQ as COVID cure.
o 1: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/15/health/new-french-study-hydroxychloroquine/index.html
o 2: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/13/how-false-hope-spread-about-hydroxychloroquine-its-consequences/
Premise
COVID is not the President’s fault, the response to COVID is. Information below is based on conversations with Trump supporters who feel his response is solid. My opinion is that thelack of federal response and appropriate coordination for a global pandemic, plus the continual misinformation from the administration, has caused tens of thousands of lives, if not more. And that will continue.
Conspiracy Theory Special Report, CNN
• Fareed Zakaria, 7-19-20: https://youtu.be/zv5hOiR77bg
• Doctor Fact Checks “Plandemic” documentary accusations of Fauci/CDC conspiracies re: COVID: https://youtu.be/TWpjc1QZg84Response Information to Discussion Points
Pandemic Preparation is Obama’s Fault
• Cupboards Bare Fact Check (Mostly False): https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/08/donald-trump/trump-said-obama-admin-left-him-bare-stockpile-wro/
• Obama left no pandemic game plan (false): https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/may/14/mitch-mcconnell/evidence-counters-mcconnell-claim-obama-team-left-/HCQ Information
• MSNBC: Medical expert re: HCQ & COVID (& Fauci’schanged position on masks): https://youtu.be/dwlacQ2QUzs
• Washington Post Fact Checker re: HCQ (April): https://youtu.be/QC-h7rnZW3k
• Doctor Fact Checks Trump re: HCQ/COVID (July): https://youtu.be/flzR0DImUbk
• BBC Reality Check re: HCQ and COVID: https://www.bbc.com/news/51980731
• Group of Doctors claim HCQ cure for COVID (false): https://www.factcheck.org/2020/07/in-viral-video-doctor-falsely-touts-hydroxychloroquine-as-covid-19-cure/
• Navarro claim that HCQ reduces COVID mortality 50% (false): https://www.factcheck.org/2020/07/navarro-doesnt-give-full-picture-on-hydroxychloroquine/
• HCQ used in countries with low COVID rates (false): https://www.factcheck.org/2020/04/trumps-faulty-malaria-coronavirus-connection/
• French Study does not back HCQ as COVID cure.
o 1: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/15/health/new-french-study-hydroxychloroquine/index.html
o 2: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/13/how-false-hope-spread-about-hydroxychloroquine-its-consequences/
Switching from Republican to Democrat
Started out a Republican but didn't read the fine print. Didn't even SEE the fine print. Below is what made me conservative (until I read a bit further into The Agreement):
- keep taxes low (but make taxes for wealthy nonexistent)
- maintain strong DEFENSE (but use it for strong OFFENSE in unnecessary conflicts)
- champion world peace (but only through military intervention and not through global organizations/initiatives)
- freedom of speech is sacred (unless doing peaceful protest during the anthem, burning a flag, or protesting military conflicts)
- freedom from religion (but promote Christian-based legislation and prayer in schools)
- promote personal freedom (except when choosing same sex partnerships)
- enhance efficiency in government (but ban controversial words in health and environmental agencies such as “fetus” and “climate change”)
- encourage freedom of the press (but ban and criticize journalists reporting real facts that constitute "Fake News")
- promote transparency in politics (by calling press “enemy of the people”)
- revere patriotism (only in form of lapel flag pins, flamboyant "America is Great" speech, and condemnations of social protests)
- honor veterans (except those who protest war)
- promote independent political expression (except at presidential campaign rallies)
- decry abortion (except when your mistress is pregnant)
- empower lower class success (by providing cups to catch trickle-down economic droplets)
- empower democracy worldwide (but not in U.S. where we promote gerrymandered districts, lack of term limits, unlimited financial influence, restricted voting rights, and no popular vote for president)
- allow racial equality (but challenge citizenship of non-caucasian candidates)
- care for our citizens (not medically, just "care" for them)
- preserve all life (even the elderly or terminally pained/ill people who want a legal way to die peacefully)
- be tough on crime (but fight the most rudimentary controls on gun ownership)
- respectfully mourn mass shooting victims (by saying "too soon" for gun control debate, then repeating statement after next mass shooting)
- promote family values (by espousing fidelity while rotating through mistresses and multiple marriages)
- science is good (except climate change science with 97% consensus)
- preserve the environment (by withdrawing from international climate agreements, promoting antiquated energy concepts, and rolling back environmental standards)
- promote politically independent thinking (through use of loyalty pledges)
- revere the constitution (by caressing your personal copy while blocking a supreme court nomination for a year until a new president is elected)
- keep taxes low (but make taxes for wealthy nonexistent)
- maintain strong DEFENSE (but use it for strong OFFENSE in unnecessary conflicts)
- champion world peace (but only through military intervention and not through global organizations/initiatives)
- freedom of speech is sacred (unless doing peaceful protest during the anthem, burning a flag, or protesting military conflicts)
- freedom from religion (but promote Christian-based legislation and prayer in schools)
- promote personal freedom (except when choosing same sex partnerships)
- enhance efficiency in government (but ban controversial words in health and environmental agencies such as “fetus” and “climate change”)
- encourage freedom of the press (but ban and criticize journalists reporting real facts that constitute "Fake News")
- promote transparency in politics (by calling press “enemy of the people”)
- revere patriotism (only in form of lapel flag pins, flamboyant "America is Great" speech, and condemnations of social protests)
- honor veterans (except those who protest war)
- promote independent political expression (except at presidential campaign rallies)
- decry abortion (except when your mistress is pregnant)
- empower lower class success (by providing cups to catch trickle-down economic droplets)
- empower democracy worldwide (but not in U.S. where we promote gerrymandered districts, lack of term limits, unlimited financial influence, restricted voting rights, and no popular vote for president)
- allow racial equality (but challenge citizenship of non-caucasian candidates)
- care for our citizens (not medically, just "care" for them)
- preserve all life (even the elderly or terminally pained/ill people who want a legal way to die peacefully)
- be tough on crime (but fight the most rudimentary controls on gun ownership)
- respectfully mourn mass shooting victims (by saying "too soon" for gun control debate, then repeating statement after next mass shooting)
- promote family values (by espousing fidelity while rotating through mistresses and multiple marriages)
- science is good (except climate change science with 97% consensus)
- preserve the environment (by withdrawing from international climate agreements, promoting antiquated energy concepts, and rolling back environmental standards)
- promote politically independent thinking (through use of loyalty pledges)
- revere the constitution (by caressing your personal copy while blocking a supreme court nomination for a year until a new president is elected)